Given name & surname
Bea
“one who blesses others”
In English use, Bea is a short form of Beatrice. One Latin interpretation is “one who blesses others.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Bea is a short form of Beatrice. One Latin interpretation is “one who blesses others.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Bea is a short form of Beatrice. An origin associated with Beatrice is Latin. Bea is a diminutive of Beatrix. An origin associated with Beatrix is Late Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Spanish usage, Bea is a diminutive of Beatriz. In English usage, Bea is a diminutive of Beatrice.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1883. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Bea through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,342
- 0 boys · 2,342 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 89 babies
- 2025
- 83
- #2,218 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +55%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 83 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,218 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 54.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,652 as a first name in 2020; 900 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Bea’s family of names
In Spanish usage, Bea is a diminutive of Beatriz. Bea has a related form in Beatrice. In English usage, Bea is a diminutive of Beatrice.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Bea has relatives in 6 languages.
7 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Bea
- Bea ArthurAmerican actress and comedienne (1922–2009)
- Bea BenaderetAmerican actress (1906–1968)
- Bea AlonzoFilipino actressborn 1987
- Bea SantiagoBinibining Pilipinas-International 2013born 1990
- Bea PalyaHungarian singerborn 1976
- Bea BineneFilipino actressborn 1997
- Bea WainAmerican jazz musician (1917–2017)
- Bea JohnsonFranco-American environmentalistborn 1974
- Bea PriestleyBritish professional wrestlerborn 1996
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Bea, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Thea
“gift of God”
>99% girls
Elora
“God is my light”
>99% girls
Vienna
“from the wine country; from Vienna”
>99% girls
Leia
“child of heaven; adorned with heavenly flowers” · “languid”
>99% girls
Ember
“a low-burning fire”
2% boys · 98% girls
Gia
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Selah
“to hang”
1% boys · 99% girls
Elaina
“the shining light”
>99% girls